Method of and apparatus for distillation of hydrocarbon oils



Aug. 2, 1932 J. H. GRAHAME 1,870,193

METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR DISTILLATION OF HYDROCRBON OILS` Filed April24. leso s sheets-sheet 1 wit- 11131;

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J. H. GRAHAME Aug. 2, 1932.

METHOD oF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTILLATION oF HYDRocARBoN oILs Filed April24, 1930 5 sheets-sheet 2 of@ w All@ 2, 1932- J. H. GRAHAME 1r,870,l93

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTILLATION OF HYDRCARBON OILS Filed April24, 1930. 3 sheets-sheet s @All EISA

Patented Aug- 2, 1932 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES H. GRAHAME, OFPORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR T THE TEXAS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A.COREORATION OF DELAWARE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS. FOB DISTILLATION 0FHYDROCABBON OILS Application ined April 24,

This invention relates to an improved method of and ap aratus for thedistillation of hydrocarbon o' s and more particularly to the treatmentof hydrocarbon oils for the production of vapor and liquid fractionswhich are to undergo further treatment. y

Broadly, the invention contemplates the treatmentof hydrocarbons oilsfor the pro- .duction of vapor and liquid fractions which W comprisesheating the oil, subjecting the Y heated oil to vaporizing conditionswherein it disposed in a shallowv film-like body from which a vaporousfraction is evolved and a liquid fraction remains, subjecting theevolved vapors to scrubbing action wherein the vapor together with suchliquid particles as are entrained therewith are caused to iiow Yatvarying velocity and with abrupt directional changes in iow with thevaporizer, in- 29 troducing a gas to the liquid fraction to strip outdesirable low boiling constituents remaining admixed therewith andsubsequently commingling them with the evolved vapor fraction which isbeing scrubbed, removing the scrubbed vapors and withdrawing the liquidfraction substantially free from desired low boiling constituents.

In the distillation of hydrocarbon oils as commonly practiced withconventional pipe still apparatus a stream of oil to be treated ispassed through a heating coil where it is heated to a predeterminedtemperature following which it may be delivered to a vaporizer or to thevaporizing section of a dephlegmator or fractionator .wherein the lowboiling or volatile constituents are evolved as a vapor and separatedfrom the unvaporized or high boiling liquid'portion and subsequentlysubjected to dephlegmation while the liquid portion may be withdrawnfrom the system to storage or for further treatnient.

In operations of this nature difficulty may frequently be experienced ineffectively iiashing or vaporizing the desired low Vboiling constituentsfrom a liquid which is undergoingtreatment particularly where thisliquid is maintained in relatively deep pools during the vaporization ofthe low boiling W components such that an appreciable liquid 1930.Serial No. 446,829.

head or static pressure must be overcome by the vapor risin towards thesurface from within the liqui body, thereby necessitating maintainingrelatively high temperatures and/or employing .a relatively largequantity of steam in order. to facilitate vaporization and completelystrip out the desired constituents. I

Furthermore, the evolved vapors during separation from the liquidportion, usually entrain and carry along with them appreciable amountsof undesired liquid material in the form of finely suspended mist-likeparticles7 the entrainment of which is further enhanced through the'necessary use of relatively large amounts of steam introduced into andcontacted with the main body of vaporizing liquid to effectively stripout the low boiling constituents as previously mentioned.

For example, in the conventional distillation of a relatively highboiling hydrocarbon oil such as a reduced or topped crude, from whichthe gasoline and kerosene fractions have been removed, for theproduction of a distillate cylinder oil fraction and a residual liquidfraction which -may be of the nature of a residuum or heavy fuel oil itis difficult to completely and effectively separate all of the desiredcylinder stock constituents from the residual fuel fraction while on theother hand the vaporized portion may contain a considerable quantity offuel residuuln entrained in aiine suspension, the presence of which isundesirable in the resulting cylinder oil distillate since it may resultin a final product having an excessively high content of residualcarbonaceous matter.

The present invention therefore contemplates passing oil through aheating coil wherein it may be heated to a. predetermined temperaturecorresponding to the vaporizing temperature of certain of its desirablelighter fractions, introducing the heated oil tangenti'ally in aplurality of streams to a vaporizer or Hash tower wherein the streams ofiuid delivered at a relatively high linear velocity are jetted againstan inner surface thereof over which they are distributed to form ashallow film or sheet of liquid from which, too

due to the extremely small liquid head, thel low boiling constituents ordesirable lighter fractions are readily flashed into vapor leaving anunvaporized liquid portion to collect in the bottom of the vaporizer.This liquid portion may be contacted with a gas or steam to strip outany desirable low boiling constituents which may have beenunintentionally deposited therewith. The combined vapors including steamused for this final stripping are passed through a plurality ofsuccessive scrubbing stages within the vaporizer wherein the combinedvapors flow through a region or zone of progressively enlarging crosssectional area in which the linear velocity of How gradually decreasesto thereby facilitate precipitation and deposition of entrained liquidparticles, then How through a succeeding zone of progressivelydecreasing cross sectional area wherein the linear velocity of flowgradually increases. The vapors are deflected and their direction offlow is abruptly reversed while moving at a high velocity to effectfurther separation and precipitation of entrained particles as theresult of the whirling action during reversal of flow. The scrubbedvapors substantially free from entrained matter may then be conducted toa refractionator while the excess high boiling liquid collecting in thelower portion of the flash tower may be withdrawn from the system.

Another important aspectof the invention contemplates an improvedapparatus suitable for practicing the invention.

In order to more fully disclose the invention, reference will now bemade to the iigures of the accompanying drawings illustratingdiagrammatically a preferred embodiment of the apparatus adapted tocarrying out the invention in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view, partially in section, of thevaporizer.I

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on theline 2 2 ofFigure 1B Figure 3 illustrates diagrammatically a section of peripheralopeningsand battles in the inner chambers of the vaporizer shown inFigures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a preferred arrangement ofapparatus adapted to carry out the method of the invention.

Referring to Figures l, 2, and 3, the vaporizer comprises a verticalvessel 1, the outer surface of which is preferably covered with heatinsulating material la having a plurality of inlet nozzles or pipes 3a,3b, etc., tangentially connected with respect to the inner surface `ofthe circular shell of the vessel.

Eccentric cylindrical chambers 4 and 5,

preferably of progressively decreasing diameter, are placed within thevessel 1 and pref-v erably depend Afrom its top 6, making a solid orvapor proof joint therewith, while their lower and free ends projecttowards the bottom of the vessel and are adapted to submerge beneath thesurface of a body of liquid 1b maintained within the bottom of thevessel. These eccentric chambers may be braced together by suitablespacers or bracket .mem-

bers 7 and while only two eccentric chambers are thus described, it iscontemplated that any desired number of such chambers may be placedwithin the vessel.

Panel sections 8 and 9 each having a series of baied vertical openings10 are provided in suitable openings in the walls of the chambers 4 and5 respectively, affording means of vapor communication1 between thechambers. each panel or section being designed and disposed in lthe wallof its respective chamber so as to cause the vapors to flowsubstantially completely around the periphery or outside of each chamberbefore gaining access to its interior.

As illustrated in Figure 3, each of the panels 8 and 9 comprise aplurality of fiat vertical vanes or baiiies 9a, 9b, etc., spaced asuitable distance apa-rt by means of spacers 10a, 10b, etc., to formnarrow vertical apertures or openings. The inner vertical edges of thevanes may be slightly inclinedtowards each other, the amount of suchinclination depending more or less upon the Width of the baffles as wellas the number of bailed openings employed in a given section. Inaddition all of the vanes in each panel are set angularly with respectto the periphery of the chamber so as to impart a whirling or rotarymot-ion to the vapors as they How around the outer vertical edges of thevanes or bailies and enter the openings there between and as a result ofwhich their direction of flow is reversed forcing them to flowsubstantially completely around the exterior of the next and innerchamber in a direction cxactly the reverse of that followed about theouter surface of the preceding chamber before reaching the panel sectionof the inner chamber whereupon they are again subjected to a similarvwhirling movement with a subsequent reversal in direction of flow.

Any desired number of these peripheral openings may be employed and theymay be arranged individually rather than in sections comprising a seriesof openings. Preferably these openings in the wall of each chamberoccupy different elevations thereby causing the vapors to follow an upand down course in iowing from one chamber to the next as the case maybe as an additional means of facilitating removal of entrained matter.

A vapor outlet 11 is provided in the top of the innermost chamber 5through which the final scrubbed vapors are withdrawn to he conducted,preferably, to a dephlegmator as will be described later in connectionwith the discussion of Figure 4.

A liquid outlet 12, having a valve 13, is

` between the inner surface of the vessel 1 and provided at the bottomof the vessel 1 through which liquid collecting in the bottom thereof'may be disposed of in any suitable manner. The valve 13 is preferablycontrolled automatically by a float 14 located within the vessel andadapted to maintain therein a suitable depth of liquid so that thelower, and otherwise open, ends of the inner chambers 4 and 5 areconstantly submerged beneath the surface of the liquid to afford a sealand thereby prevent vapor iowing around the lower edges of .the chambersrather than entirely through their peripheral openings as describedabove.

A suitable steam spray 15 is located within the bottom of the vessel 1preferably well submerged below the surface of the body of liquidmaintained therein through which steam may be admitted and caused tocommingle or contact with the liquid as it bubbles therethrough in orderto facilitate vaporization and strip out desirable low boilingconstituents remaining dissolved in or admixed with the liquid. v

A hood or baiiie 4a supported by straps 4b depending from the lower edgeof the chamber 4 serves to divert the vaporsreleased from the liquid inthe bottom of the vaporizer due to the admission of steam thereto intothe space surrounding the chamber 4 wherein it combines with the mainvapor fraction for removal of entrained matter.

In the treatment of hydrocarbon oil wherein a desired fraction isevolved which is to undergo subsequent rectification as will now boilingconstituents following which it is` introduced tangentially through theinlet pipes 3a, 3b, etc., having valves 3m, 3y, etc., into the interiorof the vessel 1. These inlet pipes serve to jet the oil at a relativelyhigh velocit-y against the inner surface of the vessel over which it sreads to form a shallow vertical sheet or 1m of Huid fromwhich thedesired low boiling constituents are evolved as la'vapor and theremaining unvaporized liquid fraction is deposited to collect in thebottom of the vessel.

The evolved vapors flow through the space the'exterior of the chamber 4and in doing so pass rst through a region of progressively increasingcross sectional area, corresponding to the gradually widening portion ofthe annular space between the wall of the vessel 1 and that of thechamber 4 eccentrically positioned therewithin, wherein the vaporvelocity proportionally decreases to facilitate deposition of theentrained material, and then through a region of progressivelydecreasing cross-sectional area, wherein the vapor velocityproportionally increases, following which the direction of vapor i'lowis reversed as it passes through the peripheral openings in the anel 8.The vertical vanes or baiies 9a, 9b, etc., impart a rotary or whirlingmotion to the vapors as they enter the openings between the vanesthereby bringing about a further separation of the entrained materialwhich is precipitated outwardsl by centrifugal force and eitherdeposited on that portion of the inner surface of the vessel or chamberadjacent to the panel section, or drops directly to the bottom of thevessel to commingle with the liquid fraction collecting therein.

Upon passing through the peripheral openings 10 and gaining access tothe interior Aof the chamber 4 the vapors again pass through the sameseries of successive var1ations in iiow to reach the interior of thenext inner chamber 5.

Accordingly it is seen that the vapors fiowing from one chamber to thenext go through a gradual swelling in which the volume of the `vaporincreases to a maximum with a corresponding decrease in linear velocityof How then through a gradual contraction 1n which the volume decreasesto a minimum with a corresponding increase in linear velocity whereuponit-s direction of ow is completely reversed.

The entrained matter separated from the vapors during their passagearound and through the cylindrical chambers is deposited directly in thebottom ofthe vessel or is precipitated against the surfaces of the outervessel and its inner chambers to trickle down to the bottom of thevessel and admix with the unvapori'zed liquid collectin therein, theexcess of which may be wit drawn through the pipe 12, having a valve 13,to a cooling coil 28 from which it is conducted through a line 29 tostorage or for disposition in some other suitable manner.

The final scrubbed vapor is removed through the vapor line 11 and may beconducted to a dephlegmator 30 wherein itis subjected to fractionationt0 form one or more inal products such as, forexample, a

remaining in this liquid. Steam introduced for this purpose togetherwith the lightzmaterial which it has stripped out of the liquid mixes orcommingles with the main vapor fraction which is being scrubbed in theupper portion of the vaporizer as already described.

While provision has thus been provided for the admission and use ofsteam or gas, it is contemplated that in manyinstances its use may beunnecessary since sufficient stripping or separation of the low boilingmaterials will be effected during the separation of vapor immediatelyfollowing distribution of the heated oil charge in the form of a liquidsheet within the vaporizer shell.

Although substantially atmospheric pressures are usually employed inconventional pipe still vaporization it is to be understood that thevaporizer described above may be equally well adapted to withstandeither subatmospheric or super-atmosphericv pressures.

Obviously many modifications and varia-- tions. of thel invention, ashereinbefore set forth, may be made without departing from the spiritand scope there0f, and therefore, only such limitations should beimposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim: t

1. A method of treating hydrocarbon oil comprising heating the oil tothe vaporizing .temperature of certain of its desirable lighterfractions, introducing the heated oil into an enlarged vessel, disposingthe oil in a film therein tothereby facilitate the vaporization of thesaid"lighter fractions, depositing an unvaporized portion ofthe oil inthe bottom of the vessel, nioving a vaporized fraction and such liquidparticles as are entrained therewith through a passage first ofincreasing and then of decreasing crosssectional area thus varying thevelocity of the vaporous fraction, abruptly changing the direction offlow of the vaporous fraction while vflowing at the higher velocity andsuccessively repeating the movement to thereby mechanically remove theentrained liquid articles, eventually releasing the substantially liquidfree vaporous fraction overhead to further treating means whileregulatably withdrawing. the surplus of the unvaporized portioncollecting in the bottom of the vessel.

2. A method of treating hydrocarbon oil comprising heating the oil tothe vaporizing temperature of certain of its desirable lighterfractions, introducing the heated oil into an enlarged vessel, disposingthe oil in aiilm therein to thereby facilitate the vaporization of thesaid-lighter fractions, depositng the unvaporized portion of the oil inthe bottom of the vessel, moving a vaporized fraction and such liquidparticles as are entrained therewith through a passage first ofincreasing and then of decreasing cross-sectional area thus varying thevelocity of the vaporous fraction, abruptly changing the direction offlow of the vaporous fraction while flowing at the higher velocity andrepeating the movement to thereby mechanically remove the envessel tothereby aid in vaporizing such un-v vaporized portions of the desirablelighter fraction as may have been unintentionally deposited with theliquid while regulatably withdrawing the surplus of the unvaporizedportion collecting in the bottom of the vessel.

3. A method of treating hydrocarbon oil comprising heating the oil tothe vaporizing temperature of certain of its desirable lighterfractions, introducing the heated oil into an enlarged vessel, disposingthe oil in`a film therein to thereby facilitate the vaporization of thesaid lighter fractions, depositing the unvaporized portion of the oil inthe bottom of the vessel, moving a vaporous fraction and such liquidparticles as are entrained therewith through a passage irst ofincreasing and then of decreasing cross-sectional area thus varying thevelocity of the vaporous fraction, abruptly changing the direction of owof the vaporous fraction while flowing at the higher velocity andrepeating the movement to thereby mechanically remove the entrainedliquid particles, eventually releasing the substantially liquid freevaporous fraction overhead to further treating means, introducing gasinto the lower portion of the body of liquid deposited in the bottom'ofthe vessel to thereby aid in vaporizing such unvaporized portions of thedesirable lighter fraction as may have been unintentionally depositedwith the liquid, diverting the thus released vaporous fraction to thefirst mentioned passage of the vaporous fraction in the removal ofentrained liquid while regulatably withdrawing the surplus of theunvaporized portion collecting in the bottom of the vessel.

4. In the treatment of hydrocarbon oil to form vapor and liquidfractions the method which comprises introducing a plurality of streamsof heated oil to a vaporizer wherein a vaporous fraction is evolved anda liquid fraction is deposited in the bottom of the vaporizer, passingthe evolved vapor through a plurality of successive scrubbing stageswithin the vaporizer in each of 'which the vapors How through a Zone ofprogressively decreasing .vapor velocity then through a succeeding zoneof progressively increasing vapor velocity whereupon their direction offlow is reversed to precipitate entrained matter therefrom, removing thescrubbed vapors for further treatment, depositing the precipitatingentrained matter from the vapors in the bottom of the vaporizer tocollect with the liquid fraction and regulatably withdrawing the saidliquid from the bottom of the vaporizer.

5. In the treatment of hydrocarbon oil to formlvapor and liquidfractions the method which comprises introducing oil to a vaporizerwherein a vaporous fraction is evolved and a liquid fraction isdeposited in the-bottom of the vaporizer, passing the evolved vaporthrough a plurality of successive scrubbing stages within the vaporizerin each of whichthe vapors flow throughv a zone of progressivelydecreasing velocity then through a succeedin zone of progressivelyincreasing velocity W ereupon their direction of How is reversed toprecipitate entrained matter therefrom, removing the scrubbed vapors,depositing the precipitating entrained matter in the bottom of thevaporizer to collect with the liquid fraction, maintaining a body of theliquid within the vaporizer, introducing steam to the liquid body tostrip out low boiling constituents remaining ad` mixed therewith andregulatably withdrawing the excess of said liquid from the vaporizer.

6. In a vaporizer for separating'more volatile fractions from lessvolatile fractions ofl hydrocarbon oil the combination which comprises avessel having inlet ports through which the oil is introduced to thevessel whose lower portion is adapted to contain a body of liquid, aplurality of chambers one within the other and within the vesseldisposed eccentrically therein with respect to the vessel and to sachother, having their top ends'integral with the top of the vessel whiletheir bottom and open ends are adapted project below thel surface of abody of ligM d in the bottom of the vessel and about"which thevolatilized fractions are caused to flow at varylng velocity to effectprecipitation of entrained matter, openings in each chamber wallaffording vapor communication therebetween and so disposed that thevapor is caused to ow substantially completely around each chamberbefore gaining access to its interior, vanes at each. opening adaptedto. impart whirling motion to the' vapors flowing therethroughwherebyfurther portions of remaining entrained matter are precipitated from thevapor, a vapor outlet through which the linal vapors are removed fromthe innermost chamber, means for admitting steam to the bottom of thevessel, a baille depending below the submerged ends of said eccentricchambers to divert steam and accompanying vapors rising from the body ofliquid into the space surrounding the outer eccentric chamber, a liquiddrawofl:l in the bottom of the vessel and automatic means regulating theflow of liquid through said draw-off.

7. In a vaporizer for separating more volatile fractions from less-lvolatile fractions of hydrocarbon oil the combination which comprisesa vesselhaving inlet ports through which the oil is introduced to thevessel whose lower portion is1 adapted to contain a body of liquid, aplurality of depending cylinders one within the the other and within thevessel disposed therein eccentrically with respect to the vessel and toeach other, having their upper ends solidly secured to the top of thevessel while their lower ends are adapted to project below the surfaceof a body of liquid in the bottom of the vessel and about which thevolatilized fractions are caused to fiow at varying velocity to effectprecipitation of entrained matter, a plurality of openings in eachcylinder wall affording vapor communication therebetween and so disposedthat the vapor is caused to flow substantially completely around eachcylinder before gaining access to its interior, vanes at each openingadapted y to impart whirling motion to the vapors flowing therethroughwhereby further portions of remaining entrained matter are precipitatedfrom 'the vap'or, a vapor outlet through which the flnal vapors areremoved from the innermost cylinder and a liquid drawof at the bottom ofsaid vessel.

8. In a vaporizer for separating more volatile fractions from lessvolatile fractions of hydrocarbon oil the combination which comprises avessel having inlet ports through which the oil is introduced to thevessel whose lower portion is adapted to contain a body of liquid, aplurality of depending cylinders one within the other and within thevessel disposed therein eccentrically with respect to the vessel and toeach other, having their upper ends solidly secured to the top of thevessel while their lower ends are adapted to project below the surfaceof a body of liquid in the bottom of the vessel and about which thevolatilized fractions are caused to How at varying velocitytoprecipitate entrained matter, a section of baffled openings in eachcylinder wall a'ordinlg vapor communication therebetween and suc thatthe vapor is caused to flow substantially completely around eachcylinder in a reversed direction to that followed when flowing aroundthe preceding chamber, a vapor outlet through which the inal'vapors areremoved from the innermost cylinder, means for introducing steam to thebottom of the vessel, a baffle depending below the submerged ends ofsaid eccentric cylinders to divert steam and accompanying vapors risingfrom the body of liquid into the space surrounding the outer eccentriccylinder, a liquid drawof Ain the bottom of the vessel and automaticmeans regulating the How of liquid through said drawof.

9. In a vaporizer for separating more volatile fractions from lessvolatile fractions of hydrocarbon oil the combination which comprises avessel whose lower portion is adapted to contain a body of liquid, meansfor admitting the oil to the inner surface of the vessel to form thereina relatively thin sheet of liquid,l a plurality of chambers ofprogressively decreasing diameter supported one within the other withinthe vessel with their upper ends closed while their lower ends areadapted to project below the surface of the liquid in the bottom of thevessel, openings in the wall of each chamber aording vapor communicationtherebetween and such that the vapor is caused to ow around each chamberin a reverse direction to that followed when flowing around thepreceding chamber 'and during which iow entrained matter isprecipitated, a vapor outlet through which the final vapors are removedfrom the innermost chamber and means for removing surplus liquidcollecting in the bottom of the vessel.

l In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 4hand this 27th day ofMarch, 1930.

JAMES H. GRAHAME.

